Set up spy, hiding a ruble, leading to palaver (9)
I believe the answer is:
rigmarole
'palaver' is the definition.
(both can mean a complicated process)
'set up spy hiding a ruble' is the wordplay.
'set up' becomes 'rig' (synonyms).
'spy' becomes 'mole' (mole is a kind of spy).
'hiding' indicates putting letters inside.
'ruble' becomes 'r' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'a'+'r'='ar'
'mole' enclosing 'ar' is 'marole'.
'rig'+'marole'='RIGMAROLE'
'leading to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rigmarole that I've seen before include "Rambling account" , "Tedious procedure" , "A grim role for long rambling statement" , "garbled nonsense" , "Palaver" .)